Mississippi State Sends 26 Athletes to NCAA East Preliminary

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State track and field has qualified 26 athletes for 20 events at the NCAA East First Round, scheduled for next week in Lexington, Kentucky. The competition serves as a preliminary round for athletes seeking to advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June, with top finishers earning berths.

Qualifying standards require athletes to finish in the top 12 in their individual events or on relay teams. The Bulldogs will send 15 men and 11 women to compete on alternating days starting Wednesday, May 37, through Saturday. Several athletes are ranked in the top 30 nationally and within the top 48 in the East Region, according to NCAA rankings, according to team sources.

Among the men’s competitors are Nicholas Fakorede in the 100 meters, Kibren Moore in the 200 meters, and Malachi Burton in the 400 meters. Relay teams featuring Fakorede, Moore, Gabe Scott, and Sherman Hawkins will compete in the 4×100 meters, while the 4×400 team includes Keayari Lee, Burton, Harry Ross-Hughes, and Hawkins.

On the field, Khalil Antoine will compete in the high jump and triple jump, while Roury McCloyen participates in shot put. Kevin Grubbs throws discus, Juha Narhi in hammer, and Tuomas Narhi and Kaden Cartwright in javelin. For the women, De’Kayla Simpson runs the 400 meters, and other athletes like Ife Adisa and Camryn Merryman will compete in middle-distance events. The women’s relay team features Adisa, Adetutu Aladeloye, Merryman, and Simpson.

Additional field competitors include Manie Mevo in triple jump, Marie Rougetet in hammer throw, and Kaylee Clark in javelin. The full list of competitors reflects a strong showing from the Bulldogs, as they aim to qualify for the NCAA Championships in Orlando this summer.

For more information, fans can visit HailState.com or follow the team on social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.

Source: Original Article